US3702420A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Electrical surge diverting connector
Assignee: United States Atomic Energy Commission
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Filing: 1971-12-21
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Granted: 1972-11-07
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Expires: 1991-12-21
Abstract
Abstract An electrical connector which provides lightning protection by facilitating arcing of electrical surges over the end of an insulator and cooperating conductive surface employing dielectric to stimulate arc-over and thus substantially reduce breakdown voltage.
Inventors
- 👤 James A Cooper
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-06 09:14
CPC Classifications
H; H01; H01R; H01R13/00; H01R13/46; H01R13/53; H01T; H01T4/00; H01T4/08
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 12
Claim 1
Independent Claim
167 words
An electrical connector for diverting electrical surges comprising an electrically conductive generally tubular housing, a first apertured wall portion extending transversely of said housing, a second apertured wall portion extending transversely of said housing at a location spaced from said first wall portion forming with said first wall portion an intermediate discharge chamber and said second wall portion having an exposed electrically conductive surface disposed toward said discharge chamber and electrically communicating with said electrically conductive housing, electrical conductors extending through said apertures and said discharge chamber each having exposed electrically conductive areas adjacent said electrically conductive surface, electrically insulating sleeve means encircling said conductors and maintaining them spaced from said second wall portion and from said electrically conductive surface and having sleeve portion ends terminating at locations substantially devoid of projection beyond said electrically conductive surface into said discharge chamber, whereby electrical surges divert from said conductors across said sleeve portion ends to said electrically conductive surface within said discharge chamber and thence to said housing.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
167 words
An electrical connector for diverting electrical surges comprising an electrically conductive generally tubular housing, a first apertured wall portion extending transversely of said housing, a second apertured wall portion extending transversely of said housing at a location spaced from said first wall portion forming with said first wall portion an intermediate discharge chamber and said second wall portion having an exposed electrically conductive surface disposed toward said discharge chamber and electrically communicating with said electrically conductive housing, electrical conductors extending through said apertures and said discharge chamber each having exposed electrically conductive areas adjacent said electrically conductive surface, electrically insulating sleeve means encircling said conductors and maintaining them spaced from said second wall portion and from said electrically conductive surface and having sleeve portion ends terminating at locations substantially devoid of projection beyond said electrically conductive surface into said discharge chamber, whereby electrical surges divert from said conductors across said sleeve portion ends to said electrically conductive surface within said discharge chamber and thence to said housing.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
30 words
The electrical connector of claim 1 wherein said generally tubular housing is provided with a plurality of ports therethrough at circumferentially spaced locations and communicating with said intermediate discharge chamber.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
19 words
The electrical connector of claim 2 wherein sealing means is provided over said ports for venting said discharge chamber.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
21 words
The electrical connector of claim 1 wherein said tubular housing and said second wall portion are a unitary conductive metal structure.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
75 words
The electrical connector of claim 1 wherein said electrically insulating sleeve means has a dielectric constant, measured at frequencies below about 108 cycles per second at room temperature of about 25* C, of greater than about 4 and wherein said sleeve means is taken from the group consisting of alumina, rutile, barium titanate and combinations thereof which have a substantially constant dielectric constant at frequencies below about 108 cycles per second at about 25* C.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
51 words
The electrical connector of claim 1 wherein the electrical conductors are of about 50 to 54 percent nickel and about 50 to 46 percent ion, and wherein said electrical conductors have coefficients of thermal expansion within about 30 percent of the coefficient of thermal expansion of said electrically insulating sleeve means.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
19 words
The electrical connector of claim 1 wherein said sleeve portions ends are substantially flush with said electrically conductive surface.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
25 words
The electrical connector of claim 1, including gas taken from the group consisting of neon, hydrogen, argon and mixtures thereof disposed in said discharge chamber.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
25 words
The electrical connector of claim 8 wherein said discharge chamber is at a pressure of from about 10 mm to about 20 mm of mercury.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
25 words
The electrical connector of claim 1 wherein said discharge chamber is at a pressure of from about 3 mm to about 7 mm of mercury.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
23 words
The electrical connector of claim 1 wherein the sleeve means has a wall thickness of from about 0.005 inches to about 0.030 inches.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1975-11-07 | 1976-05-08 | 1976-11-07 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1979-11-07 | 1980-05-08 | 1980-11-07 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1983-11-07 | 1984-05-08 | 1984-11-07 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |